Sharjah continued his love affair with Leopardstown at Christmas as Willie Mullins' charge recorded a battling win in the Matheson Hurdle for a fourth consecutive year.
The feature proved a match between Ireland's two leading trainers, with Mullins saddling three of the six runners, while Gordon Elliott inmates made up the remainder of the field.
Petit Mouchoir and Saint Roi cut out much of the early running, but Elliott's Zanahiyr hit the front approaching the home turn under Jack Kennedy.
Having come back on the bridle, Sharjah was nursed into contention by a patient Patrick Mullins.
A ding-dong battle with the gutsy Zanahiyr ensued after the dolled off final flight, but the 5-6 favourite prevailed by a neck at the line to equal the feats of all-time greats Istabraq and Hurricane Fly, also four-time winners of the Grade One contest.
"It wasn't good for the heart. I didn't think he was going to get up" - Sharjah's special moment was a nervous one for Willie Mullins | Watch the #Leopardstown Christmas Festival live on @RTE2 and @RTEplayer https://t.co/AZlEpmDpcs pic.twitter.com/IocXcYWBIs
— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) December 29, 2021
Willie Mullins said: "That was not good for the heart!
"Patrick said he wasn't as sharp as other years and then with the last hurdle missing, he got pushed out onto yesterday's ground and that just blunted his speed in the last furlong.
"He managed to do it anyhow and it was a terrific race. He definitely wasn’t as sharp as other years, but when you win a race four years running, you can’t expect a horse to be improving.
"He’s been a spectacular horse – fantastic for Patrick and Rich and Susannah (Ricci, owners). I think Rich likes Patrick riding him and he’s a special horse for that partnership."
"In the end I decided feck it, we'd come in for the bend and a clear run at the straight. It wasn't smooth but he got it done." Patrick Mullins 21st Grade 1 win is a record-equalling feat by Sharjah | Watch the #Leopardstown Christmas Festival live on @RTE2 and @RTEplayer pic.twitter.com/RaOKSHFAEx
— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) December 29, 2021
In each of the past two seasons Sharjah has gone on to disappoint in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown in early February before bouncing back to finish second in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
On whether he could miss the Irish Champion Hurdle this time around, Mullins added: "We might do that and go straight to Cheltenham, but I'll have a word with Rich and Susannah and see.
"It might be the thing to do as it doesn’t seem to work for him."
